'Madden NFL 11' is as smooth and fun as players might hope, despite the haters

I've been surprised to read comments of some discontented gamers online, writing nasty things about the new Madden NFL '11. I'm not talking about critics; critics love the game.

"Madden 11" by EA.

But an incensed minority of gamers complain that the offensive line isn't working properly. (They're wrong about that.) They say if you run play-action passes, you'll get sacked too much. (Wrong again.)

They gripe that "Madden" is geared mostly for casual gamers or for football fans -- as opposed to hardcore gamers. (That's true.)

Me? I say this is the best "Madden" in two years -- and not just because New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Super Bowl XLIV MVP, graces the cover. The offense is tight. The defense is strong. You don't throw interceptions or fumble all the time, as in some previous "Maddens."

And you can exploit the usual bonuses, namely, you can compete against other gamers online. You can play exhibition games. You can create teams from scratch and play through a whole season.

Once the regular NFL season gets under way, the game will update its teams by importing statistics. So if your team gets better or worse in real life, so, too, will your virtual team.

My few complaints are fairly fixable. When you turn on the game, it makes you choose (during every play from scrimmage!) whether you want to let the computer's artificial intelligence pick your play, or whether you want to open your playbook and pick each play yourself.

That is ridiculously cumbersome. However, it took me only about 20 seconds to click a button in the menu options to remove that lunacy. I've not had to deal with it since. Problem solved.

Madden NFL '11

By EA. Retails for $60 for Xbox 360 and PS 3; $50 for Wii; $40 for PS 2 and PSP.

Plays very fun. Looks great. Moderately challenging.

Rated "E."

(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)(STAR)

Entertainment Software Rating Board's ratings:

E for Everyone

T for Teen

M for Mature 17+

Games are rated a maximum of four stars.

Are you ready for some football?

What: A free tournament will allow "Madden NFL '11" fans to test their skills in head-to-head competition. A drawing of names will determine match-ups.

Next: Winners of Saturday's tournament will compete Aug. 28 in district finals

I don't like that "Madden NFL '11" adds more button-pushing to every down for those of us who change our receivers' routes at the line of scrimmage. But it's not a huge woe.

I agree with complainers that, essentially, this is almost the same kind of "Madden" we've been playing for years.

That means I know how to manipulate the game. I change receivers' routes constantly on offense to score with abandon. On defense, I move inside linemen to the outside and blitz them, confusing rival quarterbacks into throwing too quickly.

Thus, I can win games by scores of, say, 45-3. OK, that's a little easy sometimes.

What's being overlooked by "Madden" haters this year (and I've been a "Madden" hater in the past), is how many options you get.

The sprint button is gone, but you don't need it, because this "Madden" has better run-blockers. At any rate, you can turn the sprint back on in the menu options.

That's true of other attributes. You can, for instance, turn the "Rewind" button (a do-over) on or off.

I think haters are upset because either they're bored with "Madden" or they're angry at Electronic Arts for charging gamers $10 to compete online if they play a rented or borrowed copy of "Madden."

I understand their frustrations. I feel the haters. I'm just glad I'm not one of them this year.